Daniel Ricciardo knows he’s done the work to seriously challenge for F1 drivers title in 2017

DANIEL Ricciardo knows that no matter what the F1 season throws at him, he has done the work to get where he is. And he now feels ready to dethrone F1’s best.

Daniel Ricciardo’s 2017 helmet.

ON THE back of Daniel Ricciardo’s racing helmet, nestled above a picture of the honey badger, sit two simple words. My time.

It’s Ricciardo’s mantra for 2017. A reminder that no matter what the championship year throws at him, he has done the work to get where he is. He is ready to dethrone Formula One’s all-conquering Mercedes team.

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“I said it (My Time) after my pole lap in Monaco last year and it was a bit of like, kind of in a way a bit of frustration,’’ Ricciardo explained during F1 testing in Barcelona.

“I feel like I have put all the work into it now and I feel like I’m at a point in my career where I should start to see the rewards with more victories and hopefully a title.

“It’s just a little thing for me, hopefully to reiterate to myself, if the weekend is not going that well to reiterate that I have put in the work so make it work, make it happen.’’

There is no doubt Ricciardo is ready.

Daniel Ricciardo has a peek at his 2017 racing helmet.

The only question is whether Red Bull has done enough over the off-season to bridge the gap and help deliver the Australian star a car that can challenge for the world championship.

While Ricciardo has acknowledged there is still more to learn with the new-look car, he remains confident the team can.

Ricciardo established himself as the best of the rest of the field last year while finishing third in the championship behind the dominant Mercedes pair of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. He claimed his biggest points haul yet, including eight podiums and his first pole position.

He and young Dutch teammate Max Verstappen were the only drivers to take race wins away from the Mercedes, although Ricciardo was unlucky not to claim more after a bungled pit stop cost him victory in Monaco and he suffered from a questionable three-stop strategy in Spain.

At 27, Ricciardo knows he is approaching a window in his career when he needs to strike, declaring himself at “the strongest place I’ve been” in his racing journey so far. But he is also confident he has not yet reached his peak as a driver.

Ricciardo is still learning, but ready to challenge Mercedes. Picture: Getty Images

“There is definitely more to come still,’’ said Ricciardo, who made his podium celebration, the ‘shoey’, an international hit last year.

“I feel like I’m still learning. There’s some things I feel like, ‘Wow I’m driving amazing today and I did that really well’, then there’ll be other things where I’m like ‘I’d like to get out of that habit or I could fix that.’

“For me that’s the cool thing, is that although I feel like it’s ‘My time’ now, this isn’t as good as it gets, I feel there is still more.

“I think having Max as a teammate is cool for that because he’s young and bringing in some new techniques or something.’’

The arrival of 19-year-old Verstappen, who was promoted to Red Bull after four races last year to replace Russian Daniil Kvyat, is one internal challenge Ricciardo must conquer if he’s to fulfil his ‘My time’ prophecy.

Ricciardo admits having the hottest young driver on the grid alongside him keeps him sharp and, while their relationship in the garage appears as cordial as any in pit lane, there won’t be any favours on track if they’re fighting for victories.

“This kid is the big hype-train at the moment, so if I could slow down that train then it only helps me out,’’ Ricciardo said.

Daniel Ricciardo knows teammate Max Verstappen has momentum. Picture: Getty Images

“But we both respect probably our drive and our goal and we both acknowledge that me and him are the two more aggressive, or more competitive racers on the grid.’’

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is impressed with how Ricciardo has risen to the challenge of Verstappen’s arrival.

“There is a huge amount of attention and interest in (Verstappen) being so young and such an exciting driver,’’ Horner said.

“Daniel could have withered under that pressure, but he didn’t. He rose to it.’’

When it comes to pressure, there is none greater on Ricciardo than ahead of his home Grand Prix at Albert Park, where he will this year be aiming to improve on his fourth place from 2016.

He admits the attention and hectic schedule of media and publicity appearances can become overwhelming.

Red Bull has work to do if it wants to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari early in the season. Picture: Getty Images

“Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy it and Australia is great and it has always been great to me. I do love it but I do prepare myself for a very busy week,’’ Ricciardo said.

“I guess the only downside is I can’t really get out. Melbourne is a great city, but I can’t get out because I’ve got that many events on and when I don’t have an event on I’m like, I need a rest.

“That’s the downside of it. But would I say I don’t want to have a home Grand Prix? Absolutely not.’’

The Australian Grand Prix is one race where an (official) podium finish has eluded Ricciardo — he finished second in 2014 but was later disqualified after a fuel-flow breach — and it’s one he wants more than any.

He’s hoping this year will be his time.

RAGING BULL — Ricciardo’s results at Red Bull Racing

Drivers’ championship and Australian GP

2014 — 3rd (later DQ)

2015 — 8th 6th

2016 — 3rd 4th